| Cleo Francis Pineau | |
| Birth Date: | 23 July 1893 |
| Death Date: | 29 May 1972 |
| Placeofburial Label: | Wildwood Cemetery |
| Placeofburial: | Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Birth Place: | Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA |
| Death Place: | Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Allegiance: |  United States |
| Branch: | Royal Air Force (United Kingdom) |
| Serviceyears: | 1917–1918 |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Unit: | Royal Air Force |
| Battles: | World War I |
| Awards: | British Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Laterwork: | Sparked civil aviation in Pennsylvania; became executive in steel industry |
Lieutenant Cleo Francis Pineau (23 July 1893—29 May 1972) was an American World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1] He was a renowned motorcycle racer both before and after the war. He later became an executive in the steel industry.
Pineau was the son of Thomas L. and Adele Gstalder Pineau.[1] He was a restless youth, and dropped out of school in sixth grade.[2] He was a motorcycle racer before World War I.[1] He raced Flying Merkel and Indian Motorcycles, once defeating Barney Oldfield. He also rode in the "Globe of Death" motordrome as a vaudeville performer.[2] During 1914 and 1915, he rode as a professional for the Flying Merkel team.[3]
See also: Aerial victory standards of World War I. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in December 1917,[4] and trained at the Curtis Aviation School in Buffalo, New York.[2] He was assigned to No. 210 Squadron RAF on 2 June 1918. Between 6 September and 8 October 1918, he used a Sopwith Camel to destroy four Fokker D.VIIs and drive down two others. Following his sixth win, he was shot down by a Fokker Triplane near Roulers and fell into captivity as a prisoner of war.[4]
Pineau went back to motorcycle racing in the 1920s, winning many world motordrome records.[5] Pineau did not leave aviation behind. He was instrumental in founding the Williamsport-Lycoming County Airport, and fostered it through his connections in the aviation community, including a friendship with Wiley Post.[2] [5]
He began the Radiant Steel company in 1928, as a spinoff from Darling Valve and Manufacturing Company. By 1948, he was its president; he served in this capacity until he retired in 1969. He died in 1972.[5]